Nauru (pronounced Now-roo), the world’s third-smallest country by population, has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero. President David Adeang announced the change, restoring a name that was used on the island long before European colonization. With a population of about 12,000, the island nation remains the world’s third-smallest country by population, behind Tuvalu and Vatican City.
The country’s name is now Naoero (pronounced Now-ero), and its citizens will be known as dei-Naoero rather than Nauruans. Its international country code will also change from NRU to NRO.
European colonizers renamed the island Nauru because they found its original name difficult to pronounce. Officials said the change was intended to restore historical identity and improve convenience rather than reflect a choice made by the island’s original inhabitants.
Parliament approved a constitutional amendment establishing the new name in May, following Adeang’s proposal in January. Lawmakers supported the measure in two rounds of voting. A referendum had initially been planned to confirm the change, but those plans were later abandoned after further discussions.
The world’s third-smallest country chose its original name
According to Adeang, the name “Naoero” was never truly lost, but was instead waiting to be embraced once again. He noted that it already appears on the national coat of arms, is used in everyday speech, and is recognized under the constitution, meaning a public vote was not considered necessary.
Nauru, a small island in the Pacific Ocean, with an official name change: pic.twitter.com/ok3bKXJ7Rs
— Siddharth Khurana (@SidKhurana3607) August 3, 2026
The President emphasized that the change is about identity and heritage rather than politics and explained that restoring the name honors the legacy of Nauru‘s ancestors while helping strengthen the country’s future for younger generations, describing the move as the beginning of renewed national pride. The renaming also extends to the country’s aircraft and ships.
Germany was the first colonial power to claim the island, and Australia later administered it before Nauru gained independence in 1968. Phosphate mining brought significant wealth during the 1970s, but the industry’s collapse pushed the country into economic crisis by the 1990s. Today, rising sea levels pose a growing threat to Nauru, leading the nation to introduce a citizenship-by-investment program intended to help fund the relocation of residents and critical infrastructure.
Nauru joins global renaming trend as UN updates records
The move follows a broader trend among countries seeking to remove or move away from colonial-era names. Eswatini abandoned the name Swaziland in 2018, while Turkey requested in 2022 that the United Nations use Türkiye, a name long used domestically.
The United Nations updated its records after Naoero’s government formally requested the change in June. Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and China have also updated their references to the country.
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